NorLights Press is a great place for
authors, new or established, because of
their dedication to helping artists and
writers bring their work to the world.
They're not cynical or calculating,
they're not chasing industry trends in
the hope of making a quick buck. They
look for talent and passion, and when
they find it, they're eager to be
involved.

Our book was a nonfiction horror
filmmaking book, a genre they hadn't
worked with previously; but they felt it
had potential, and they pursued its
publication with equal parts zeal and
professionalism.

The process of putting out a book is
never easy; but Sammie, Dee, and
everyone at NorLights made it as
pleasant and rewarding an experience as
possible.
-Christopher and Kathleen Vander Kaay
The Anatomy of Fear

I had always dreamed of writing a book. NorLights Press made that possible, and
I recommend them to anyone who has also
had that distant dream but is ready to
do more - to make it a reality.

The publishing process can be
overwhelming, and I am so thankful I was
with NorLights Press for my first book.
They were there for me every step of the
way, answering my questions and guiding
me along the right path towards a
successful book. They have tremendous
experience and are willing to go above
and beyond to market your book with you
- much more than many large
publishers. Like almost every publisher
today, the bulk of the marketing is the
responsibility of the author, however I
was so thankful for the many ways Sammie
and Dee were willing to work with my
ideas and make them happen.

While you can be quickly forgotten with
a large publisher, NorLights Press and
the publishers are accessible. Sammie
and Dee feel like friends, and they have
been so helpful whenever I have a
question. I'm beyond thankful that my
literary agent led me to NorLights
Press, and because of them my book is
not only a reality, but a success.

My first book was
published by one of the biggest in the
business. My second by NorLights
Press. When/if I have a third, I
wholeheartedly would prefer that NorLights
be my publisher. Sammie, Dee, and
Nadene worked quickly, professionally, and
considerately to turn my manuscript into a
book. They kept me informed and
involved in every step of the process.
and, as we collaborated, I felt as if I were
working with long-time friends instead of
anonymous business associates. Upon
publication of my book, they also proved
invaluable for marketing. They
provided guidance I never received from the
major publisher. And they quickly
responded to any request I made for advice
and/or assistance. NorLights Press
gives small publishers a great name.
--Robert Montgomery, senior writer for
B.A.S.S. Publications and author of
Why We Fish: Reel Wisdom From Reel Fishermen

What happens when Random House or
HarperCollins doesn’t offer you a
quarter-million dollar advance for
your masterpiece? Mike Jastrzebski
has had a lot of success with
self-publishing. He’s put a lot of
work into marketing and promoting
his books. And it has paid off.

But, there is another option.

When my agent started shopping
around a few years ago, she hit all
the major publishers in New York.
For a year we received polite
rejections saying “not for us” and
“not marketable”. There were
positive comments on the writing and
the story, but no one knew what to
do with it. Yachting is a small
community that no one knew how to
tap into. I was about to give up.

But, my agent branched out further
and found a small publisher that was
just starting up. NorlightsPress.Com
was an independent press that wanted
to publish Sea Fare as their first book. I was
thrilled.

We started sending e-mails back and
forth and exchanging ideas. Not a
day went by that I didn’t have
multiple e-mails from one of the
editors or the publisher himself.
They asked my opinion and answered
my questions as they arose. I felt
like I was a star with a whole team
of publishing professionals behind
me. I felt apart of their family.
They gave Sea Fare
100% of their attention.

Now, you might say that that was
easy since I was their only client
at the time, but in the two years
since publication of Sea
Fare, NorLights has
expanded. They now have 35 published
books and work with dozens of
authors. And not once in that time
have they ignored me or shuffled my
work to the bottom of the pile (like
I hear authors at big publishing
houses complain about).

Today, I sit poised to release my
second book with NorlightsPress and
have found the experience to be just
as intimate and rewarding. The last
week of October, I sent in
SEAsoned: A Chef’s Journey with Her
Captain,
thinking that I would have a few
weeks break from writing before I
heard anything back. NorLights
received my manuscript on Friday. By
Monday, I had my first set of
revisions to approve from the
copy-editor. By the end of the week
we were discussing cover design.
SEAsoned
was receiving as much attention as
Sea Fare
did and it was going fast! The
editor and I discussed what I liked
about my first book and what we
should change. When I suggested
including “Chef Victoria” graphics
as chapter openings they bent over
backwards to accommodate the
request. We sent rewrites back and
forth with the speed of a cigarette
race boat. Much faster and with more
input from me than a big house
offers their authors. I felt like I
was apart of the whole process.

And not only did they focus on
SEAsoned
but they decided to revamp Sea Fare adding
similar graphics and changing the
type-set so it would match the
second book. NorLights looked to the
future of my brand and wanted both
books to reflect where we were
headed. What other publisher would
go to those lengths?

SEAsoned
will be released in two weeks time,
faster than any publisher I’ve heard
of, and once again I am impressed.

For anyone looking to publish in
this ever-changing publishing
industry, I would strongly suggest
taking a look at a smaller
publisher. Join a family. Be loved.
--Victoria Allman -
sea-fare.info

SUBMISSION GUIDELINESWe Accept Submissions By Email Only

NONFICTION:
We’re looking for nonfiction titles pertaining to business, health and wellness, psychology, advice and relationships, women’s issues, cooking and food, spirituality, New Age, science, true crime, animals, and current affairs.We’re willing to consider almost any nonfiction topic. A strong marketing plan is a plus!

EMAIL QUERIES ONLY!If interested, we will ask for further material, which you may send via email attachment. Do not send attachments unless requested.

Email:publisher@norlightspress.com

If your nonfiction query is of interest we’ll ask for your book proposal, which should contain the following sections:

Title page Table of Contents for the proposal Overview (no longer than 1 ˝ pages) About the AuthorThe Market (Who will buy the book?Who is your audience?)Marketing and Promotion (What specific things will you do to help sell your book?)Competition (List of recent competing titles and how your book compares)Status of Book (length, completion date, etc.)Table of Contents (optional)Chapter Outline (a brief statement explaining what each chapter will contain)Sample Chapters

Also include a cover letter or original query note.Be sure to include contact information, including your physical address, telephone number, and email address.

FICTION: We’re looking for exceptional fiction in the following categories: Women’s fiction, Christian fiction, mainstream, multi-cultural, Romance (no erotica), mystery (including sub-genres and crossovers), and U.S. historical. We accept science fiction and fantasy on a limited basis, and only if exceptional. Ask yourself: Will my story wow this publisher?

Send as email attachment:Email:publisher@norlightspress.comA cover letterA short synopsisA title page, which should contain your physical address, telephone number, email address, and the word count of your WorkThe first three chaptersThe Market (Who will buy the book? Who is your audience?)Marketing and Promotion (What specific things will you do to help sell your book?)

If we request to see the complete manuscript, please send the material as an email attachment.